5 signs you love food a little too much

There are people that love food and then there are people that LUV food to the point when they can't even spell right. The sight, the smell, even just the mention of food makes their whole world stop and they can only focus on that piece of pie, those french fries, that bbq chicken or that cheese plate. It's an attraction that can't be broken because food is so lovely, so kind, so dependable, especially when you have the taste for something and then you are able to appease that craving with pure delight. That's relationship goals for real. Whether you're #teamcarnivore #teamvegetarian or #teamvegan, one thing that can bind all of us is our level of greediness because we are all truly on the next level with our love for food. So if you're scratching your head and wondering whether you're on our level, then I got you!

Here are 5 key signs that you love food a little too much (if there is such a thing):

1. You can binge-watch cooking videos with no problem. Facebook is the devil when it comes to this or perhaps, Facebook is really a sweet angel. It depends on how you view it. Either case, you find yourself clicking on one cooking video that is randomly on your timeline and end up watching a playlist of 55 other recipes. The funny thing is you don't ever cook any of them. You simply are watching marathons of Buzzfeed's Tasty for the pure joy of it. That is some greediness for ya!

2. Your favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. I mean the best thing about the holidays is the food... I mean family. 👀  But you know damn well you are more so thinking about that Thanksgiving spread though. It's like you've waited all year for this moment and then thee food gods just open up a plethora of deliciousness! Yeah, you can tell I love that food porn when I start getting Shakespearean about it. Don't judge me.

3. You plan your whole day around food. Every day, your first thoughts are about what you are going to have for breakfast, what you're bringing for lunch and what you'll have for dinner. Oh and let's not forget about the snacks. The rest of life will just have to just work around those golden moments of flavors and fun.

4. You love going out to eat by yourself or with friends. Sometimes, you give no fucks and decide that food is more important than company so you take yourself out to eat because you remember that succulent steak that you couldn't resist so you, the go-getter that you are, will sit at the fanciest restaurant with your best threads for the best date ever - Filet mignon. I mean who needs friends when food is around? Just saying...  And whenever a friend ask you what you want to do, you immediately say "Let's go to that new restaurant. I heard they got some good food there." You really know you got it bad when you are down to go out to eat no matter the time of day because you're game for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dunch and dinner.

5. You have that signature dance move when you are eating something really good. Let me just let Janet take this one for me.

janet, janet jackson eating, love food dance, food, eating, greedy

Looks familiar? Then you, my fellow greedy friend, may love food a little too much just like me. :)

Now it's your turn, tell me how much do love food? Are you part of the greedy committee? Let's talk about it!

10 things from back in my day that millennials probably have no clue about

As a person in her early 30s, it is always a little frustrating when people group me with millennials. Granted, I am too young to be in the Generation X category but I am sure that most people around my age feel too old to relate to those who were born in 2000. I always felt like there should be an in-between category, maybe "Generation X and a half"  because we definitely have a unique set of experiences that the millennials can't fully relate to. Ask a millennial or better yet, if you are millennial, ask yourself, do you know anything about these ten topics?

1. Nintendo & Super Mario Bros. Oh Mario, Mario, Mario. He went through some shit to save the princess but we enjoyed the full journey as we helped him step on mushrooms, avoid random ducks and hop over deadly plants. If it sounds like a game about being high, you could be right but as kids, we had no herbs around us, just Nintendo and that weird ass game.

2. Records, Cassette Tapes & Compact Discs. If you've ever heard a record scratch in a song, at some point, that sound was quite literal and DJs proved their skills by showcasing how well they were able to tear up a record and make it sound hot. Cassette tapes were probably one of the most annoying forms of listening to music because we had to rewind and fast forward to get from one song to the next and trust me, it could take awhile to get to the perfect spot. Lastly, I'm sure you're familiar with compact discs a.k.a. CDs. They were the most recent forms of portable audio storage and unlike records, scratches on these were not really cool at all - more of a nuisance causing a certain part of a song to repeat itself over and over. Ah...the good ol' days.

3. Slow ass AOL. You know, the internet wasn't always this fast. In fact, we remember a time when there was no internet. 😳 I know. What did we do before Facebook? In any event, the internet did come along in our life time, probably around our early to late teens and we had to learn a very valuable trait - patience. When we logged onto the internet, we had to wait for about 10 hours before even getting to our email. I know, the horror but the wait was all worth it when we heard "You've Got Mail." Hearing that was like getting a notification on Facebook - it was special!

4. Portable Cameras. Before Instagram, there was insta-go-to-the-store-to-drop-off-your-portable-camera-and-wait-for-prints-a-day-later. I guess that process wasn't so instant after all. Also, we didn't have the convenience of putting all of our photos into one device. We either had many envelopes stuffed with random photos or 30 specific photo albums. I'm sure you've seen these collections around and probably even took a few photos of the photos for the Gram. 🤓

5. Physical Maps & Spoken Directions. On the road and lost? There was no Google Maps. There were barely any GPS systems. There were only actual maps, which I never understood how anyone could follow them. Yet again, I am not that great with direction so it makes sense why maps are frightening to me. There were also moments where you had to trust a friend and/or stranger to guide your way to the right direction so you follow their pathway and pray you get there safely. Fortunately, most of the time all went well and if you did end up on a longer detour than planned, then you had a great story to tell your friends so I guess you can say there was a little bit more adventure back in my day. I'm going to make that assumption and stick to it.

6. VHS Tapes & VCRs. Ever worried about your favorite movie being recorded over? If you know about that life, then you are probably familiar with VHS tapes and VCRs. Tangled tapes, tracking buttons, warped sounds were all a part of the VHS Tape/VCR life and we just had to deal with it. If you have no clue what I'm talking about, just ask someone 30 or up.

7. Face-to-Face Conversations. In a world where texting and social media has become the normal form of connection, face-to-face connections seem to be sadly going out of  style. People are quicker to send a text message than actually calling people and even when people are face to face, we can all be caught looking at our phones instead of being engaged with each other. This is an issue across generations but more so with the younger ones.

8. Rappers with Lyrics. Trap music, arguably today's most popular form of rap music, seems to barely have lyrics. They may not even have actual words. Mainstream rappers almost seem to be mumbling incoherent sounds over a banging beat. Back in my day, the rap game was fueled with how well a rapper's lyrics and delivery were in a song. Now, I am starting to get why my parents said they could barely understand rappers in my day. I guess this lack of understanding goes from generation to generation.

9. ABC's TGIF. Topanga. Urkel. Jesse. If none of those names ring a bell, then you truly missed out on some of the best classic teen-friendly programs at night. Fridays used to be lit with Boy Meets World, Family Matters and Full House. The good news is you can probably catch some episodes on YouTube and laugh at our cheesiness while we sit back and enjoy the nostalgia.

10. Remembering Phone Numbers. Can you imagine a world where you have to remember your family and friends' phone numbers? Pretty strange, right? We were like walking phone books that could recite plenty of phone numbers strictly from memory. I guess the closest thing to this now-foreign phenomenon is how many passwords we remember through our many online accounts.

I know there are plenty more that could be added to this list. Do you have some additional items? And millenials, are you familiar with some of these?  Let's talk about it! 

10 Funny Moments that Only Those with the Name Tunisia Would Understand

Shakespeare once asked the noted question, "What's in a name?" If I was able to travel through time in a cool Back To The Future vehicle, I would meet him and immediately reply to the legendary writer, "Quite a bit, sir." A name has the potential to bring folks together for many reasons. I can use a recent experience that happened to me as an example. As most of you probably know due to my large font size for my website's title, my name is Tunisia. A few days ago, I met another Tunisia on Pinterest - Tunisia Nicole to be exact. She sent a private message, asking whether or not that was my real name. I responded with a "Yes" and an instant bond happened. As we were talking back and forth, we noticed that we had some very similar stories regarding people's reactions to our unique name so I thought it would be great to collect those stories (the first five being hers and the last five being mines) and compile a list of ten funny moments that only people with the name, Tunisia can relate to. To all my fellow Tunisias out there, let's compare notes! Have any or all of the following happened to you?

1. Having to break down my name phonetically so that people can understand how to pronounce it.

2. Attaching associations to my name so that people can relate it to something. (ie. Tunisia - like the country." Immediately, people go "Ohhhhhh, what a pretty name!"

3. Having to inform the receptionist at the doctor's office repeatedly that the name is not Tanisha or Tanesha. Even though I've been coming to the same doctor for 5 years.

4. I was once asked if I've ever been to Tunisia and if I know the name of my tribe. This luckily was an exception to the usual responses.

5. Having to repeatedly explain why my parents named me Tunisia. My answer: "My mom was a big history buff."

6. Hearing the craziest mispronunciations of my name that are way off. One fine example is Tundra. I wish I could say that I only heard it once but I heard it a few times in grade school and it wasn't the kids who were saying my name like that.

7. Realizing that everyone's favorite song suddenly becomes A Night In Tunisia when they meet me.

8. I silently judge anyone who is Black and has no clue on how to pronounce my name but then I remember that if my name wasn't Tunisia, I'd probably be tongue-tied too. Therefore, I silently judge myself for silently judging someone else. This is all happening in my head right at the introduction. They have no clue. :)

9. It's pure amusement when I see the confused facial expressions when I say my name for the first time to someone.

10. Getting super creative when trying to explain how to say my name is fun! So far, "Tunisia... like 'I need ya.'" works like a charm.

So that's our list but I'd love to hear yours! Do you have a unique name and can relate to the struggle? Please share! The more, the merrier (and funnier). Also, if anyone has the name, Tunisia, please join us in our convo! We would love to meet you!

for my brothers and sisters: a meditation on activism

Nothing can offend me if it doesn’t reflect me.

Nothing can offend you if it doesn’t reflect you.

Reactive energy is only a sign that something inside of me/you believes that what the other is saying is true.

Nothing can offend me if it doesn’t reflect me.

Nothing can offend you if it doesn’t reflect you.

Proactive energy is a sign that something inside of me/you believes that what the Higher is saying is true.

Nothing can offend me if it doesn’t reflect me.

Nothing can offend you if it doesn’t reflect you.

two black female bloggers have a seat at Solange's table

"I don’t expect everyone to have a handbook or a guidebook on how to deal with certain issues – I certainly don’t. But there is this idea that we as black people should just be an open-ended book of resources, when we are having to heal ourselves, let alone teach everyone how to deal with us.”

- Solange (from W Magazine interview)

Since the last day of September, Solange has been feeding us from her bountiful table of specially selected soul, full-course southern style and a full helping of all the pain and beauty of being Black. Mama and Papa Knowles are in attendance along with New Orleans' finest, Lil' Wayne and Master P. 

Grab a plate and pull up A Seat at the Table with one of my favorite bloggers, Kelley Briana of Gray Suede & I. 

Table, A Seat at the Table, Rocio Perez Rodriguez, Solange

Kelley Briana: First listen to A Seat at the Table was in parts, but I did take the time out to tune in with no distractions-sitting still, absorbing the music as well as the lyrics. It's nothing like her previous albums or EPs, but it shows her growth and reflects the times, as every artist should. It's much more mellow than True and definitely more adult than Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams. And I say it is five-star. So glad she made her return with such a necessary work of art. I love it. I love it. I love it!

Tunisia Jolyn: I woke up around 2 in the morning and thought to myself, "This is the perfect time to download Solange's new album and listen." Despite having to wake up early for work, I went ahead with my plan and did not regret the loss of sleep at all. In the complete darkness of my room, her crisp vocals shined an internal light, mesmerizing me from start to finish yet the lyrics describe a deep-rooted pain and strength that underlies the lives of our people. Truly moving. I agree with your comparisons to her previous albums. I will say, however, that I am not surprised by her progression because I remember her very first album, Solo Star, showcased her unique vibes with music. Every song she had some part in, I loved the most and I still feel her earliest songwriting and production work, on Solo Star and even on Kelly Rowland’s first solo record, Simply Deep, are extremely underrated. She just always had a special way with words and sounds and this album delivers that times ten! 

Kelley Briana: Yes! I'm pretty sure we were listening at the same time because I had like two hours of sleep but made sure I had my playlist set before I laid down. I echo your sentiments, except I'll admit I can only recall like two tracks from Solo Star. I have some homework to do. You know when an artist you love- or maybe even a brand new artist to you emerges -you kinda wanna scoop up everything they've made and binge listen? Hear the transition. I feel that way after having A Seat at the Table on repeat all night. Every waking moment, this album should be in my ears. I am pretty sure I'm gonna get a listen in as often as possible for awhile. A long while.

I like that fact that she got her parents + NOLA natives involved. Truly paying homage to where she came from, who she is and the newer roots she's planted in Louisiana. I really really love + appreciate every single track, including the interludes. The realness of "Mad" and "F.U.B.U." The piano and ooh-whas of "Junie."  "Junie" is a definite favorite. "Don't Touch My Hair," for obvious reasons (LOL) is a favorite. It's so real! Hair is much more than hair for us. I think above all though, so far, "Cranes in the Sky" is my absolute favorite jam. Just... everything about it. 

And "Borderline." Top track, no doubt.

And "Scales." OMG... so dreamy! Kelela is my jam. Did I mention my love for the entire album?

Tunisia Jolyn: LOL Yes, I believe you did mention your love for the entire album. In fact, you almost listed every song as your favorite and I don't blame you! The whole album is brilliant in its delivery but there are some highlights that I noticed while listening to A Seat At The Table. The first song, "Rise," really grabbed my attention from the first lines "Fall in your ways so you can crumble/Fall in your ways so you can sleep at night/Fall in your ways so you can wake up and fly." The poetic words and intricate harmonies really set the tone for the rest of the album.  Then, it smoothly segues into my other favorite track, "Weary." With its minimal production from Raphael Saadiq and Sir Dylan, this song really allows her message of self-discovery and self-empowerment to stand out strongly without many distractions at all. While listening to "Cranes in the Sky," I immediately thought of the legendary Minnie Riperton, especially when she hits that high note at the very end. Every time I hear it, I get chills because she captured the pain of trying to block the insurmountable pressure of being Black in this world, in such a gorgeous way; it is almost like alchemy for the soul. "F.U.B.U." is another hot track where she shows so much swag and I hate that word 'swag' but it's the best word to describe how she rides the beat so flawlessly while spilling the real so effortlessly. Better than some rappers actually. I can see every woke Black person vibing to this while bopping their heads like "Yup... this shit is definitely for us.” 

Oh and that intro to "Don't Touch My Hair" though... 

 Okay, I'm done. 

Kelley Briana: Yea, you summed it up LOL. It's just... organic. I was a lil' skeptical when I saw some of the featured artists (who will go unnamed), but I dig the WHOLE thing. I can say that about only a few albums in my library.

Tunisia Jolyn: Organic is such a good word for this album. I would also add ‘authentic'. When discussing such serious topics within our community and in society as a whole, Solange seems to take such a bold yet polite approach, seemingly purposefully given the title of the album. From the music to the digital book to the artwork, A Seat At The Table has almost a muted expression of the frustration, anger and hurt within the Black community while also being unapologetically empowering and inclusive in its delivery, embracing her genuine pride and love for her people and her culture while showing her Southern manners with her invited guests at the table. 

Kelley Briana: I am not even mad at all the new fans that got up from the table stuffed with the realness that is Queen Solange! A Seat at the Table should be in every Black person's library. She did her duty as an artist by releasing a timely album that is a true sign of the present. I echo you in saying that there is a muted frustration. I love the mixture of self-love, amorous love and Black love/love for our people. It's rare that an album boasts all three - so rare that I can't think of another like it. [On the opposite end of the spectrum, maybe To Pimp a Butterfly.] A Seat emerged at a point when it's much needed and, for that reason [along with it just being overall jammin'], clearly well received. You'll be able to take this one off the shelf in ten, twenty, thirty years and remember exactly what was happening to our people in 2016. 

It's always refreshing to hear an artist with a platform be absolutely real, to say "Hey, I'm Black like you and it hurts me just the same. I feel it. You are welcome here, in my home. At my table. Sit down. Sing along. Cry. Be mad. Hear, listen to these poems I sang for us. Just us." 

I cannot give this modern masterpiece enough praises. A Seat at the Table, album of the year. 

Now we want to hear from you. What do you think of Solange's new album? What are some of your favorite songs? How do you feel about the overall message of this record? Let us know! 

To learn more about A Seat at the Table, click HERE. To read more from Kelley Briana, go to GraySuede.com

To preview and purchase, go here: A Seat at the Table - Solange

don't let the media kill your positive vibe

Media operates on fear.

Not us.

Media breaks people apart.

Not us.

Media tries to stop folks from elevating.

Not us.

Look around you, my friend. That's real life.

The screens may fool you.

Don't let the mess consume you.

Don't allow the programs to control your mind.

Let it motivate you to become greater than ever before.

Let it move you towards love even more.

Let it inspire you to create something magical.

Let it push you into empowerment.

Let it guide you towards solutions.

Let it energize you towards education.

Let it center you in mindfulness.

Let it bring you to stillness.

Let it encourage you to be in community.

You want to stop the fear right?

You want to win the spiritual warfare right?

Then get inside your Universe and align your own stars.

Be the light at the end of our dark tunnel.

Be the love in the middle of brokenness.

Love is the silent revolution we've been waiting for.

Be one of the soldiers of love.

And just love.

a tale | poem inspired by tonya m. foster

A tale

A mother stands on a sidewalk talking

about how she landed

in the unfamiliar row houses of Philadelphia.

A summer story. 1990.

She was riding along a lonely

inappropriate road that only holds

certain shades to certain standards.

She made a wrong left turn and was in the right space.

That sticky sweaty sweetness of coco skin

makes a random bee excited

with bright eyes that she never saw before or

perhaps noticed before. So enthralled with this

typical object of pain, she follows its path to

corner stores, chalk coded games, water hoses as water coolers, music blaring messages of

pride in new sound systems, and five cullud boys drumming

that ball of loose baskets, dripping with excitement and tiredness.

Random passersby call her

by a nickname that she only heard on television. “Sista!” she exclaims

in her tale. Perhaps, they were drawn to her

wayward worries which were illustrated by her

engulfed eyes looking away from their faces, from their boom boxes, from their fist t-shirts

and dark shades many men wore to protect

from the sun, the stares of those who wanted their innate control, dried up tears of last night constant realization.

“They came to me,” she says

like the girl who finally got to go home

after going astray for days, “but

I had to say goodbye because my parents

promised Grandma’s pecan pie.”

new age ideology can get you f@$%ed up

Before you start cursing me out and calling me a hypocrite, let me explain. I would be considered a member of the "new age" crew. I am spiritual but not religious. I love doing angel card readings for myself and friends. I would like to align my chakras, and I believe in the third eye. I am also all about positive vibes and raising frequencies. I listen to meditative music at night. I even think I may have had a kundalini awakening around the age of 25. And the list goes on and on. I mean those are the qualifications for that "new age" life right? By the way, I don't honestly think new age is really that new but that's another story for another day. To make it simple, I will embrace the new age tag on my spirituality. However, I find a certain segment of new age ideology very dangerous if it is not balanced with a dose of practicality.

In life, it is always best to balance yourself in all respects especially when it comes to your livelihood. I have seen the following so many times in so many ways: "Follow your passion. If you don't like your job, quit." My reaction is "Bish what?" I understand that jobs can be a pain in the ass but let's take a step back and really think about that statement. Okay, so the first part is fine because I totally believe in following your passion. However, I don't know if it is smart to just up and quit your job because it does not align with your passion at the moment. You can always work your current gig and do your passion on the side until it becomes a full-fledged business for yourself. I think that is a nice way to follow your passion without going broke and hungry. I mean, the bills won't just disappear no matter how much we wish we can make those go away which leads me to my next point.

Law of attraction can only work if you work.

Another message that I see being pushed in the "new age" world is the law of attraction. I believe that the law of attraction is real and can work to our benefit. In fact, as I am writing this, I am on my way to a friend's house to create a vision board for the new year so that I can visualize my future with nice imagery. However, I know that you cannot just will things into your life by this superpower "law of attraction." The Universe still requires you to pursue the goals you set in order for the attraction to work. In other words, law of attraction can only work if you work. I feel that very important part of hard work is oftentimes missing from the law of attraction rhetoric and it is probably one of the most vital parts of making the law of attraction work in your life so yes, use law of attraction but be ready to work your ass off too!

In conclusion, if you are not careful with certain aspects of new age ideology, you will be fucked up and wonder what happened. Just keep balance in mind when raising your frequency, aligning your chakras and meditating on your future. All your dreams can come true but it takes a lot of focused energy, time, discipline, hard work and belief in self. So like my girl, Janelle Monae says, just stay on the tightrope and be balanced my fellow "new age" friends!

So, if you read this whole thing and still want to curse me out, please feel free do to so in the comments section below. Also, if you have anything you wish to add to this conversation, I'd love to hear from you as well. Let's talk about it! 

an ode to the most misunderstood woman in the world

Karma.

She is vilify by many.

She is called out her name by plenty.

However,

she exemplifies the universal truth

"Do onto others as you would have them do unto you."

Karma.

She is brave with bold audacity.

She can also be quiet with hidden reciprocity.

Honestly,

she upholds the standard

of integrity and responsibility.

Karma.

She is used to labels and laughs

because she knows why so many hate her.

Karma.

She is truly one fair woman.

oh winter, we meet again...

Well, well, well winter...

You are a mysterious one this year. I am not sure whether to give you a handshake or the side eye. I mean this strange up and down of temperature and lack of snow makes me wonder if the honeymoon will soon be over and mountains of snow will come and keep going through March. I truly hope not, Winter. I mean you should just take your loss like a lady and let Spring come with her warm sunshine because I'd like to not think about the terrible flashbacks of snow, ice and hell on earth. Sure, your picturesque beauty, when snowflakes fall fresh from the pale blue sky, is perfect for the two seconds it stays white but then someone has to shovel piles and piles of those flakes. And guess who does that for my home? Me. Of course, it is nice to feel the crisp, clear air that breezes through when you are here but then I recall the horrors of cold hands, cold feet and a cold nose that is always red. Rudolph has nothing on me.  It is true that being indoors for long periods of times is great for an introvert like me but being trapped inside with no way out is another story. Moreover, I do love watching figure skating during the Winter Olympics but I can't help but reminisce about all the times I was stuck in the middle of thick and black ice thinking that I may not see another day because I am not a figure skater at all, with or without skates. Perhaps, if I think long and hard, I can come up with delightful qualities of you that do not remind me of the horrors of you but my time is precious and instead, I will be daydreaming of beaches, margaritas, and sun rays. It's the only way I can cope with you in my life.

Readers, do you have the same thoughts on winter? If not, can you please enlighten me on the good qualities of this cold season?  Let's talk about it!

3 tips to having a happy hangover day i mean... happy new year's day

So today is January 1st which means it is a brand new year. If you're reading this, then congratulations! You have made it through another year and another night of ridiculous amount of drinking. If you are the rare breed that do not partake on New Year's Eve, then kudos to you and I hope you have a bright and sunny day! However, this post is dedicated to my fellow drinkers. 21 and older only. :) Hangover Day, as I like to call New Year's Day, can be a very happy one once you finally get over the headache, the queasiness, the exhaustion and the dehydration so I'd like to share what has worked for me over my 10 years experience of drinking. (Am I really aging myself? Yup I am.)

Before I share my personal tips on getting over a hangover, I want to state that I am not a doctor or any type of medical professional so please do not take my word as gospel. I am only sharing what has worked for me and many others so please proceed with caution. Okay so with that out of the way, here are my 3 tips of getting over a New Year's Eve hangover so that your new year's day can be a happy one.

1. Sleep for as long as you need. Don't make the mistake I made last year and schedule your bus travel early in the afternoon after partying all night long. I ended up walking around like a zombie and barely ate my meal because I was that hungover and exhausted. Sleep is your friend so become best buds with it on this day!

2. Eat a hearty meal. For some reason, the best thing for me after a long night of partying is greasy breakfast food - pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon, grits, french toast, butter, syrup, lard a.k.a. a heart attack in a meal. I am not sure if that is the best thing to eat after a hangover (probably not) but it does wonders for me and it gives me an excuse to eat a huge breakfast/brunch.

3. Drink lots of water. Whenever you drink large quantities of alcohol, it is best to hydrate your body throughout the night with water but if you forgot to do that then you can start to drink water, tons of it, right when you wake up. I usually like to drink water as I'm eating my meal and then continue to drink glass after glass of water afterwards, depending if my stomach feels queasy upon waking up. You can also do what some of my friends suggested and continue to drink and keep the buzz going but I wouldn't recommend that.

What are some of your hangover cures? Let's help each other out in our drunken New Year's stupor!

no one has your life. no one ever will.

We oftentimes forget our magnificence because there are so many forces bombarding us with one ugly message - we are not enough. We are not pretty enough. We are not smart enough. We are not happy enough. We are not successful enough. We are not rich enough. And the list goes on and on and on in one endless loop if we decide to play that tape in our heads.

However, guess what?

We can change the tape.

We can play the one that says we are enough. We are the only ones expressing life in one specific way. No one else can claim our experiences. No one else can walk on the exact same path as us. Our uniqueness makes us enough because our unique qualities contrast and connect us.

We are enough. We always have been enough. Please remember that no one has your life and no one ever will and that alone, makes you truly special in this world.

keep life light

we pack experiences and impressions

overload on bags of memories

we try to drag them along in moments

overload on bags of miseries

we forget to unpack when new times come

we try to bring up old news that is buried

digging sometimes for hours just to find

the feeling of the now that aligns

to make a case or make a plea or make a repeat of past

because we keep carrying old luggage hoping to make it last

however, wheels are falling off and the straps are breaking

perhaps now is the time to start thinking

drop the bags and leave them where they are

and walk easier throughout our journey near and far

step with a brand new stride

creating new rules to pack light

when things get too heavy,

begin to clean out all the stuff

that does not fit in our space now

so we can keep life light

one moment at a time

Written April 2014

an open letter to hollywood

Dear Hollywood,

We, the people of color, are not stereotypical props. We are human beings. Emotions do not elude us, and depth has not escaped our character. We feel. We cry. We laugh. We smile. We joke. We think. We hurt. We live. We love. We contradict. We are whole. We are scared. We are strong. We are not a singular background story to your main one. We are more than that.

If you do not honor and respect us, then we will pack our talent up and move the hell on. We will gather our resources and show you how much we truly matter in the world. Believe it or not, our stories are aligned with everyone else’s, even yours. The connection between viewer and filmmaker of color will be made once vulnerability is shown from a genuine perspective because we, the people of color, will be the ones with the pen and the lens.

You see, Hollywood, we know what you are thinking but you are sadly mistaken. There is an audience for us – a huge one in fact so you can go ahead and play in one shade. We will be over here, playing with a multitude of colors.

We, the people of color, shall not be your puppets anymore. We will gain control. We will be powerful in all of our lovely imagery that you so failed to show throughout the years because we are more than you ever believed us to be and for that, we shall say once and for all “Goodbye Hollywood.”

What are your thoughts on diversity in Hollywood and the entertainment industry as a whole? If you could write a letter to Hollywood, what would it contain? Let's talk about it!